1799
MuratandMoaradBeyattheNatronLakes—Bonaparte'sdepartureforthePyramids—SuddenappearanceofanArabmessenger—NewsofthelandingoftheTurksatAboukir—Bonapartemarchesagainstthem—TheyareimmediatelyattackedanddestroyedinthebattleofAboukir—InterchangeofcommunicationwiththeEnglish—SuddendeterminationtoreturntoEurope—Outfitoftwofrigates— Bonaparte'sdissimulation—HispretendedjourneytotheDelta— GenerousbehaviourofLanusee—Bonaparte'sartifice—HisbadtreatmentofGeneralKléber.
BonapartehadhardlysetfootinCairowhenhewasinformedthatthebraveandindefatigableMouradBeywasdescendingbytheFayoum, inordertoformajunctionwithreinforcementswhichhadbeenforsometimepastcollectedintheBohahire', ', untilIreturnedtoFrance, thatMouradhadascendedtothesummitofthegreatPyramidforthepurposeofpassinghistimeincontemplatingCairo!
, thatassoonastheBeyheardofMurat'; wehadnot, indeed, , onbeinginformedbytheArabs, whoactedascouriersforhim, thatGeneralDesaixwasdespatchingacolumnfromthesouthofEgyptagainsthim, thattheGeneral-in-ChiefwasalsoabouttofollowhisfootstepsalongthefrontierofGizeh, andthattheNatronLakesandtheBohahire'hwereoccupiedbyforcessuperiortohisown, retiredintoFayoum.